Friday, November 22, 2019

New Container Line for Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Portland will be receiving weekly visits from SM Line starting in January. The South Korea-based container carrier, established in 2017, will add Terminal 6 to its current Pacific Northwest rotation.

“We look forward to this new service in Portland, which will expand our trans-Pacific service coverage and better connect SM Line with customers in the region,” said SM Line CEO Kee Hoon Park.

Using six 4,300 to 4,500 TEU vessels, the weekly service will begin on Dec. 22 at the port of Ningbo in China then stop in Shanghai, Pusan, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Pusan, Kwangyang and Yantian.

“We are thrilled to welcome SM Line and give regional shippers more options and better connect Oregon businesses to global markets,” said port executive director Curtis Robinhold. “This service will help reduce the number of trucks on the road and decrease regional environmental impacts of freight movement.”

Governor Kate Brown’s recent trade mission trip to South Korea played a major role in securing the business. Brown and port officials met with SM Line executives.

“This is great news for Oregon, which will create more jobs for Oregonians and more opportunities for local companies to grow as they market Oregon products overseas,” Brown said. “Oregon sent $1.7 billion in exports to South Korea last year. During our recent trade mission, we met with SM Line executives and made the case for continuing connections with our trading partners in Asia. I’m delighted they made the decision to come to Portland.”

LA and Copenhagen Malmö Ports to Share
Energy Tech

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Ports of Los Angeles and Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP) will team up on environmental issues for at least the next five years.

On Nov. 15, both ports inked a Memorandum of Understanding in Los Angeles, allowing them to discuss issues and best practices related to “energy use and alternative energy sources; advance clean marine terminal equipment technology, ocean-going vessels and drayage trucks; and involvement in global environmental associations and initiatives,” according to the port.

“This agreement further solidifies our partnership with CMP, and our mutual interest in promoting the most efficient, most sustainable goods movement possible,” said Los Angeles Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “With cooperative information-sharing among ports around the world, the Port of Los Angeles has been able to achieve many of our advancements in reducing environmental impacts from port operations over the last decade.”

Barbara Scheel Agersnap, CEO of CMP, noted that her organization is looking forward to working with the Port of Los Angeles on how to continuously promote sustainable port development and management.

“In order to accelerate solutions on sustainable matters, we need to push for new technologies and new ways of working,” Agersnap said. “Strong partnerships are key to solid and speedy development – and we hope this agreement will also accelerate cooperation between the green maritime development in our two regions for mutual benefit.”

Port of Hueneme Hosts Newsom Advisor

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Hueneme recently hosted Lenny Mendonca, Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom and director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.

Mendonca toured the port and participated in a roundtable discussion with port stakeholders about generating more economic opportunities for the area and sharing concerns about environmental regulations being considered in Sacramento.

“One in three jobs in our state are tied to the ports and having our state’s leadership understand the positive ripple effect we have on growing the middle class is paramount to our local and state economy’s success,” stated Port Public and Government Relations Manager Cam Spencer. “Today’s visit shows our message is being heard and we have a partner in the Governor’s office.”

“The port and its customers are vital to the local, state, and national economies. Their commitment to leading this region in a path forward toward higher wage jobs and sustainable environmental practices should be replicated around our state,” Mendonca said.

Long Beach Awards Sponsorships

By Karen Robes Meeks

Approximately $376,000 have been awarded to 124 community projects by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, which govern the Port of Long Beach.

Funding – which benefit area organizations dedicated to the arts, environment, social justice and historic preservation – was provided to the Cambodia Town Culture Parade and Festival, the Shared Science 2020 Tech Girls Workshop, the Long Beach Homeless Coalition’s LB Homelessness Ally Program and the Community Action Team’s 30‐Minute Beach Cleanups.

“Long Beach has an abundance of wonderful organizations that produce impressive events and programs. We’re honored to be able to support them through our sponsorship program,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “It’s a way for us to strengthen our commitment to the community while bringing awareness to the port’s important role in the region.”

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

San Diego Port to Purchase Renewable
Diesel Vehicles

By Karen Robes Meeks

Port of San Diego harbor leaders voted earlier this month to approve the $700,000 purchase of seven vehicles to add to the port’s work fleet. The trucks will be powered by renewable diesel.

The Board of Port Commissioners authorized the agreement with 72 Hour LLC, DBA National Auto Fleet Group. The purchase includes one 10-yard dump truck, two ¾-ton crew cab pick-up trucks, one ¾-ton utility gardener truck, one ¾-ton crew cab stake bed truck, one long-bed cargo stake truck and one refuse packer/loader. The contract also includes two gas-powered mid-sized SUVs to replace two older fleet vehicles.

“The use of renewable diesel will help the Port meet its Climate Action Plan goals to curb greenhouse gas emissions along San Diego Bay and its tidelands,” said Garry Bonelli, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. “The Port’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased 13 percent since 2006 and the purchase of these vehicles will help to further decrease air pollution.”

Seattle Seeks Input on New Cruise Terminal

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Seattle is seeking additional input on a proposed cruise terminal at Terminal 46. The comments submission deadline has been extended to the end of month.

The project calls for the development of a new 29-acre cruise terminal that would meet the growing demands of the port’s cruise business. Feedback will be gathered and considered for the project’s State Environment Policy Act analysis.

The public will have until 4 p.m. on Nov. 27 to weigh in on the proposal. Written submissions can be sent by emailing SEPA@portseattle.org or mail to Laura Wolfe, Port of Seattle, Pier 69, 2711 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121. Stakeholders can also go to the Terminal 46 Cruise Development website at http://www.T46cruise.participate.online and click “Participate” to provide input.

New Art for Redwood City Waterfront

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Redwood City’s waterfront will soon feature the work of Bay Area street artist Marlon Yanes.

On Nov. 20, the port will unveil Yanes’ art during a ribbon cutting ceremony. The paintings feature a 3-D mural depicting the inside of a sailboat cabin, utility box artwork honoring the port’s history and a series of nautical-themed light posts.

“These fresh bursts of colorful public art are one of the many ways we’re working to invite more of the community to enjoy our waterfront,” said Port Executive Director Kristine Zortman. “With so many recreational opportunities here along the waterfront, we hope to create a welcoming place where people want to frequent. We invite everyone to come see the new public art here in person, and hope they stay awhile to enjoy our other amenities.”

The ceremony will take place at 8 a.m. at Spinnaker Sailing, 451 Seaport Court, Redwood City, CA 94063.

For more information on the port’s public amenities, go to www.redwoodcityport.com/publicwaterfront.

Coast Guard Seeks Input on Bar Safety

By Karen Robes Meeks

The US Coast Guard (USCG) is asking the public to weigh in on proposed safety requirements at several bar entrances in central and northern California.

The community has until Dec. 9 to submit comments on the proposed Regulated Navigation Areas for harbor bar entrances to Crescent City Harbor, Humboldt Bay, Noyo River and Morro Bay.

According to the Coast Guard, “the proposed regulation would create additional safety requirements for recreational and small commercial vessels operating in these areas during periods of hazardous conditions, such as high wind or breaking surf, as well as establish clear procedures for restricting and closing these harbor bar entrances in the event of unsafe conditions.”

For more details, contact Lt. Andres Ayure, the 11th Coast Guard District Waterways Management Aids to Navigation operations officer; at Andres.a.ayure@uscg.mil, or call 510-437-2982. Comments can be submitted in writing to Commander, 11th Coast Guard District, Waterways Management Branch (dpw), Bldg. 50-2, Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA 94501-5100, Attn: ATON Operations Officer, or by visiting https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/07/2019-23968/regulated-navigation-areas-harbor-entrances-along-the-coast-of-northern-california.